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, REPORT 

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COMMISSIONER FOR VERMONT, 



UPON THB 



Yorktown Centennial 



CELEBRATION. 



RUTLAND : 

TuTTLE & Co., Official State Printers. 

1880. 



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Yovk 

REPORT 



COMMISSIONER FOR VERMONT, 



UPON THE 



Yorktown Centennial 



CELEBRATION, 



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RUTLAND : 

TuTTLE & Co., Opficiai. State Puintets. 

1880. 






fN House of Rkvreskntatives, | 
November 19, 1880. f 

Submitted to the House by a message from His Excellency the Qovoinor, 
and on motion of Mr. Taft of Burlington, ordered to lie and be printed. 

H. N. NEWELL, C/«-.i'. 



MESSAGE. 



STATE OF VEEMONT. 

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Executivp: Chamber, 
MoNTPELiEU, November 19, 1880. 



7'o the Ornercd Asseinbly of the State of Vermont: 

1 }i;ive the lion or to herewith transmit to yon the re]wrt of the 
Eon. Jolui L. Barstow, Commissioner for Vermont of the Cen- 
tennial Celebration to be held at Yorktown, Va., in October next, 
which 1 commend to your careful consideration. 

"^riie celebration of great events and important epochs in the 
history of a nation tends to bring nioix' vividly before the minds 
of the peo})le such events and e})ochs as well as the j)rinciple8 
resulting from such events and taking their origin at such epochs, 
than can any words of orator, poet or historian. 

It is well to mark the recurrence of the anniversaries of the 
leading events of the Revolutionary struggle that made us a free 
people. The day of the declaration of our independence we 
observe annually. Some of the other decisive events we seem to 
have forgotten, and only call ihem to mind now that their hun- 
dredth anniversary is approaching. 

The victory of the allied French nnd American armies and 
fleets under Washington, De Rochambeau and De Grasse, over 
the English forces under Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va., October 
19, 1781, was one of the greatest victories of the Revolution and 
the last. Its celebration next October, as provided for by Con- 
gress, will be the last and it is believed the finest of the centen- 



nial celebrations of the Revolutionary War. Congress and tlia 
States of the Union generally have or arc providing tliat tliQ 
display on that occasion shall be commensurate witli the impor- 
tance of the occasion. Congress has appropriated $20,000 for 
the celebration alpne, and $100,000 for the monument to ba 
erected on the site. The army and navy of the United Statest 
and of the French government will take part in the ceremonies^ 
Should our own State desire to be represented there, in a proper 
manner, something must be done by the present legislature. 

It is true that Vermont was not one of the original thirteen 
States, but she had an independent existence as a State at tha 
time of the battle of Yorktown, and many of her sons were in 
the American army. Ticonderoga and Crown Point, Hubbardton 
and Bennington had already become famous, and Vermont haa 
participated in all the benefits of the grand results of the victory 
at Yorktown. Let us then take a proper part in the celebration 
of that occasion. 

The report of the commissioner Avill give yon a fuller and mora 
accurate statement in regard to tlie matter than I have time or- 
occasion to give here. 

ROSWELL FARNHAM, 



REPORT. 



To His Excellency Rosioell Farnliqm, Governor of Vermotii : 

Sir : — On the 19th of November, 1879, the undersigned was 
appointed by His Excellency Redfield Proctor, Governor of Ver- 
mont, a Commissioner to represent this State in making arrange- 
ments for a celebration of the centennial anniversary of tho 
surrender of Cornwullis, in accordance Avith the resolutiona 
adopted at a meeting of the Governors of the old thirteen States, 
in Philadeljjhia, on the 19th day of October, 1879. 

In making a report of my labors under this commission, it may 
not be amiss first to glance at the historical importance of tho 
event, the remembrance of which it is proposed to perpetuate, 
and follow this with a brief statement of what has been done and 
of what is proposed to be done. 

On the 19th day of October, 1781, the surrender of Lord Corn- 
wall is to Gen. Washington made our indejDendence an accom- 
plished fact. 

Washington ordered our whole army to bo assombled to *' ren- 
der thanks to that God who had given them the victory." 

When the news reached Congress, that bedy with the people 
streaming in their train went in procession to church to return 
thanks to Almighty God for crowning with success the allied 
iirms of America and France. They voted thanks to Washington 
and Lafayette, and from all parts of the country there burst 
fortli one universal exj^ression of joy, gratitude, thanksgiving and 




6 

applause, to the allied heroes who fought uuder Washington and 
triumplicd over Britain. 

On the 29th of October, Congress voted that a monument 
should 1)6 erected at York town to commemorate the event. 

When the news of the surj-ender reached France, the name oi 
Lafayette was everywhere j)ronounccd with veneration, and the 
Duke of Vcrgeiines said, " History offers no example of success 
80 complete." * 

At the British Court Lord North said, " it is all over ;"and on 
the succeeding 4th of March, the British parliament resolved, 
" that the house would (tonsider as enemies to His Majesty and 
to the country all those who should advise or attempt the further 
prosecution of offensive war on the continent of North America.'* 

The poverty and distress of the peojile after the war was such 
that the resolution of Congress in regard to a suitable monument 
was not carried into effect, and no serious effort in that direction 
has been made until quite recently. 

During tlie summer of 1879, the Governor of Virginia, in view 
of the approaching centennial of this great event, suggested a 
meeting of the Governors of the old thirteen States, with refer- 
ence to a proper celebration of that day and the completion of 
the monument. By the appropriate invitation of Governor Hoyt 
of Pennsylvania, the Governors met at Independence Hall in 
Philadelphia, on the anniversary of the surrender, and passed a 
resolution recommending the people of the United States to 
organize such a celebration of the centennial anniversary 
of the surrender of Coriiwallis at Yorktown, as shall befit the 
historical significance of that event, and the in-escnt greatness of 
the nation. Further, that a committee of one from each State 
in the Union be appointed by the several Governors (with tho 



Governor of Virginia as (ihairman), to niako the proper arrange- 
ments. 

The meeting was largely attended and enthusiastic. It looked 
to a great national jubilee in commemoration of the crowning 
military success of the patriots who took up arms in ITTo, and 
who did not lay tlieni down until the surrender at Yorktown, 
betokened the complete aiul iinal renunciation of Britisli claims 
to sovereighty over the people who, at Philadelphia- in 1776, 
declared their independence. The united sense of the meeting 
was that the lessons of history are enforced upon the rising geue- 
ratio*n, the gospel of freedom is preached in no more effective 
way, than by such celebrations as began at Concord in 1875, and 
will end at Yorktown in 1881, where widely separated and per- 
haps long estranged representative citizens of our common coun- 
try are brought face to face, and where they may renew their 
pledges of devotion to the principles which are the corner stone 
of our indissoluble republic. 

Animated and patriotic addresses were made by Gov. Andrews 
of Connecticut, Gov. Carroll of Maryland, Gov. Hoyt of Pennsyl- 
vania, and othei's. 

Gov. Holliday of Virginia said, "the celebration would be an 
earnest that the bond which bound our ancestors one hundred 
years ago has not been severed, and that the States whose names 
ace indivisibly connected in history, cannot be made to feel toward 
each other as aliens. Though a dark and fearful epoch has inter- 
vened between those early days and ours, peace now reigns, and 
letting the dead past bury its dead, we look to the future with 
confidence. The splendid treasures of the Centennial assure us 
that the Republic lives, and that bitter memories are dead. Let 
crimination and recrimination cease — they can do no good." 



_ Tho request to have a conimisioncr appointed from caeli State 
wai generally com})licd v/ith, and on the 4th of January, 1880, 
Mr, Goode, the member of Congress from the Yorktovvn district, 
presented the following timely resolution in the House of Repre- 
sentatives at Washington : 

Whereas, on Monday, the 29th day of Oatobor, 1781, it was 

*' Resolved, That the United States, in Congress assembled, will 
cause to 'be erected at York, in Virginia, a marble column, 
adorned with emblems of the alliance between the United States 
and his most Christian majesty, and. inscribed with a succinct 
narrative of the surrender of Earl Cornwallis to his cxceirency 
General Washington, commander-in-chief of the colonial forces 
of America and France ; to his excellency the Count de Rocham- 
beau, commanding the auxiliary troops of his most Christian 
majesty in America; and his excellency the Count dc Grassc, 
commanding in chief the naval army in France in Chesapeake ;" 
and 

Whereas, that resolution has not been carried into effect, and 
the })ledge of the nation made nearly one hundred years ago 
remains yet unfulfilled ; and 

Whereas, it isemitu'utly [)r()per thar the centennial anniversary 
of the decisive victory achieved by Washington and the (.-ontinen- 
tal army, witli the assistance of their French allies at Yorktown, 
should be appropriately celebrated by the American people on the 
spot where it occurred ; Therefore 

Resolved, That a select committee of thirteen be appointed by 
the Speaker, whose duty it shall be to inquire into the expediency 
of appropriating a suitable sum to be expeiulcd under tlic direc- 
tion of the Secretary of War, in ci-ecting, at Yorktown, in Vir- 
ginia, the monument refen-ed to in t]\e aforesaid resolution of 



9 

Congress, atid of making tho necessary arrangements, in conjunc- 
tion with the authorities of the State of Virginia, for an appro- 
priate celebra:io:: by tho American people on the 19th day of 
October, 1881,. for the surrender of the British forces under Lord 
Cornwallia ; and that said committee have leave to report by bill 
or otherwise at any time. 

Which was unanimously adopted. 

Pending further action by Congress, petitions from this State, 
headed by ex-Governors Holbrook, Smith, Dillingham, Pag*, 
Hendee and Fairbanks, President Buckham of the University of 
Vermont, Judge Poland and Hon. E. P. Walton, President of 
the Vermont Historical Society, and signed by our Judges of the 
Supreme Court and many other eminent citizens, were presented 
in Congress, praying that an appropriation might be made to 
erect a suitable monument at Yorktown to commemorate the 
fiurrender of Cornwallis. 

The press of the State also urged our delegation in Congress to 
assist in this worthy object. 

These expressions of favor from the eminent men and press of 
Vermont were warmly acknowledged by the press and authorities 
of the State of Virginia, and on the 7th of Juno. 1880, the Pres- 
ident signed the following act of Congress : 

An Act to carry into effect the resolution of Congress, adopted 
on the twenty-ninth day of October, seventeen hundred and 
eighty-one, in regard to a monumental column, at Yorktown, 
Virginia, and for other purposes. 

Whereas, on Monday the twenty-ninth day of October, seven- 
teen hundred and eighty-one, it was resolved. That tlio United 
States in Congress assembled, will cause to be erected at York, in 
Virginia, a marble column, adorned with emblems of the alliance 



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between the United States and His Most Christian Majesty ; and 
inscribed with a succinet narrative of the snrrender of Earl Corn- 
wallis to His Excellency General Washington, Commander-in- 
chief, of the combined Forces of America and France ; to His 
Excellency Count De Rochambeau, commanding the Auxiliary 
troops, of His Most Christian • Majesty in America ; and His 
Excellency Count De Grasse, commanding-in-chief the Naval 
Army of, France in Chesapeake ; and 

Whereas, the said resolution of Congress has not yet been car- 
ried into effect, although nearly one hundred years have elapsed 
since it was adopted ; Therefore, 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America m Congress assembled, That the 
Bum of one hundred thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may 
be necessary, be, and the same is hereby appropriated, out of any 
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended 
under the direction of the Secretary of War in erecting at York- 
town, in Virginia, the monument referred to in the aforesaid 
resolution of Congress ; Provided, however, That the material 
used may be such as the Secretary of War may deem most suitable 
and desirable. 

Sec. 2. That a commission of three persons shall be appointed 
by the Secretary of War, whose duty it shall be to recommend a 
suitable design for said monument ; to prepare a sketch of 
emblems of the alliance between His Most Christian Majesty, and 
the United States ; and a succinct narrative of the surrender of 
Earl Cornwallis, to be inscribed on the same ; subject to the 
approval and adoption of the select committee of thirteen 
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on the 
nineteenth of December, eighteen hundred and seventy-nine, and 



11 

of thirteen Senators to be appointed by the presiding officer of 
the Senate, to enquire into the expediency of appropriating a. 
suitable sum to be expended in erecting at Yorktown in Virginia, 
the monument referred to, • 

Sec. 3. That it shall be tlio duty of said joiut committee to 
select the site for the location of said monument, to obtain the 
cession of the same from the State of Virginia, and to make all 
necessary arrangements for such a celebration by the American 
people, of the centennial anniversary of the battle of Yorktown 
on the nineteenth of October, eighteen hundred and eighty-one, 
as shall befit the historical significance of that event, and the 
present greatness of the Nation. 

Sec. 4. That the sum of twenty thousand dollars, or so much 
thereof as may be necessary, is hei-eby appropriated, out of any 
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the pur- 
pose of defraying the expenses incurred in tjie said centennial 
celebration, and to be disbursed under the direction of the said 
Joint committee. 

Approved June 7, 1880. 

The joint committee" of thirteen Senators and thirteen Repre- 
sentatives comprises, among others, the names of Anthony, 
Dawes, Hawley, Bayard and Randolph. 

The Secretary of War has appointed as a commission to select 
a design for the monument at Yorktown, Richard M. Hunt of 
New York, Henry Van Brunt of Boston, and J. Q. A. Ward, 
two architects and one sculptor, each of great eminence in their 
respective arts. 

Congress having appropriated 8100,000 for the monument and 
$20,000 for the celebration and appointed a committee to take 



12 

charge of the whole matter, it Avill be seen that the duties of tJio 
original commissioners arc ended. 

When the day comes for the gathering of the pcojile at York- 
town, it is safe to say that Vermont will furnish her quota of the 
crowd that will populate the Old Dominion peninsula. 

It is understood that the Government of our sister, the young 
French Republic, has signified its acceptance of an invitation to 
participate in the celebration, and indicated its intention to bo 
represented by a large detachment of its army and navy of all 
branches. 

This will be the largest and most imposing as it will be Ihp 
last of our Kevolutionary centennials ; every State will urgently 
be requested to participate in the commemoration of that glorious 
final struggle, that secured our independence and made us a 
nation. What shall be the response of Vermont ? It seems to 
me that every dictate of patriotic State pride and honor demands 
tliat the Legislature should make such provision as shall ensure 
the Governor of Vermont a suitable escort on that occasion. 

At the centennial of the first of our Revolutionary struggles, 
the contest so gloriously waged by tlie " embattled farmers " of 
•Concord and Lexington^ Vermont was honorably represented by 
the patriotic public spirit of Governor Peck, and one of the best 
of our military organizations, the Ransom Guards of St. Albans. 

Again, at the grand display at Philadelphia, on the 4th of July, 
1876, the Governor of Vermont was attended by two comi)anics 
■of Vermont Militia, the Rsmsom Guards of St. Albans, and the 
Estey Guards of Brattleboro, and at \)o\\\ these great centennial 
events, as well as on the Exposition grounds at l^liiladelphia, tho 
good name of Vermont was mainlinucd by [irivato individuals, 



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Bimply because the attention of the Legislature was not seasona- 
bly called to the matter. 

Our own celebration at Bennington, in August, 1877, is fresh 
in the recollection of all. Our sister States did not then let our 
call for help go forth unheeded. Now Hampshire sent a brigade 
of militia to show her interest in the occasion ; Massachusetts 
was present by her Legislature, her Governor and principal 
officers, escorted by the finest corps of citizen soldiery in New 
England, the Boston Cadets. New York, also, was represented 
by several military organizations. 

Shall we in turn refuse to do our simple duty in a similar 
manner, and advertise to the world that our people are ready to 
receive favors, but are chary in making the only return that can 
be made ? 

I respectfully submit to your Excellency the propriety of ask- 
ing the Legislature to take such action as shall serve to sustain 
the honor of the State and " testify the respect of its sons for 
their heroic ancestry." 

JOHN L. BARSTOW, 

Comini!<sione,r, 



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011 800 366 4 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 





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